BUILD First Freenas after Synology

[Nick Dutch]

Hi Guys,

After using a Synology box for several years for simple data storage and mainly to stream video using plex I would like to upgrade to a system with more power(transcoding at least 1080p, 4K maybe?).

I do not really expect to want to stream to multiple devices but I would like the box to be able to at least last me a couple of years and maybe have some overhead for other services I might want to run in the future.

I checked the stickies but I would like to verify my build if you guys would be so kind as to review it.

The proposed list:

• CPU: Intel® Core™ i3-6100 Processor (3M Cache, 3.70 GHz)
• MB: MSI C236A WORKSTATION
• HDD(4x): WD Red WD40EFRX, 4TB
• Case: Fractal Design Define R5
• Boot(2x): Sandisk Cruzer Fit 16GB USB 2.0
• Memory(2x): SAMSUNG 16GB 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM ECC Registered DDR4 2133 (PC4 17000) Server Memory Model M393A2G40DB0-CPB
• PS: Seasonic G Series 650W

 

[danb35]

The board looks like it should work, but it isn't one we see a lot around here, and it has a bunch of unnecessary stuff that could end up causing compatibility problems. A proper server board like one of the recommended Supermicro or AsRock boards would be a safer way to go.

 

[Nick Dutch]

Hi danb35, thx for your reply. I have also looked at a Supermicro X11SAE but the cost is 1oo euros more(almost double the price) while it has the same chipset. Do you guys think this upgrade is really worth it?

 

[Jailer]

If you feel confident enough to troubleshoot unproven hardware should it run into issues, then go ahead and get the MSI board. I'm not saying it will, it's just that no one here (that I know of) has used one to have the confidence to give you a green light on purchasing one. Supermicro and Asrock are known to work that's why they get recommended.

 

[BigDave]

https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/support/C236A-WORKSTATION.html#support-mem
Searching MSI's approved memory list (linked above) the RAM choice does not show up as tested/supported.
Keep in mind that your CPU choice must support the RAM as well... that being said, if the vendor guarantees
compatibility of RAM, mobo and CPU, then this is a mute point.
Your board choice has the recommended brand Intel ethernet port (two ports would be much better), BUT lacks
a dedicated BMC/IPMI port allowing "headless" access, something that most users consider invaluable.

Hi danb35, thx for your reply. I have also looked at a Supermicro X11SAE but the cost is 1oo euros more(almost double the price) while it has the same chipset. Do you guys think this upgrade is really worth it?

In the long run, purchasing server grade components over workstation stuff is IMHO always "worth it".
Sourcing decent FreeNAS recommended hardware in the Netherlands is not an easy task, but cutting corners
and making compromises can often lead to frustrations/failures that in the end cost($) as much, or more.
If your budget forces you to make these compromises, perhaps take a look at sourcing used items like socket
1155 or 1150. This direction may allow you to stay within your budget AND build with proven quality hardware.

 

[danb35]

(two ports would be much better)

Why?

 

[BigDave]

Why?

In case of failure...
edit: question from user with 4 ethernet ports in his machine. :p

 

[danb35]

edit: question from user with 4 ethernet ports in his machine. :p

Granted, but I wasn't looking for them, and in fact I'm not using any of them (I have a Chelsio 10G card). Just seemed like an odd recommendation to me, but having a spare in case of failure makes sense.

 

[BigDave]

Granted, but I wasn't looking for them, and in fact I'm not using any of them (I have a Chelsio 10G card). Just seemed like an odd recommendation to me, but having a spare in case of failure makes sense.

It always made sense to me as well. IIRC someone pointed out to me that having two ports on a server board was standard practice,
which later became standard for the more prosumer class desktop boards as well. In the case of this MSI board we're looking at, I must
say that having a "workstation" board with only one port makes me wonder what other corners MSI may have cut with this unit...;)

 

[jgreco]

Why?

For servers, it has been common for there to be a public facing and a private facing network, or a service network and a storage network... prior to the advent of vlans, multiple ethernets were really popular for segregation of traffic, and even with vlans, that's still frequently seen. Now it's more useful for redundancy, as noted.

Hi danb35, thx for your reply. I have also looked at a Supermicro X11SAE but the cost is 1oo euros more(almost double the price) while it has the same chipset. Do you guys think this upgrade is really worth it?

That's not an upgrade. That's a sidegrade. Moving from one workstation board to another is not a significant improvement. Something out of the X11SS* family would be more appropriate.

 

[CraigD]

I've been told many ethernet ports are great thing

Have not tried it but I'm sure Pfsense works with freeNAS or you could team ports together to get 100MB/s for each connected computer with a CIFS share

 

[danb35]

I'm sure Pfsense works with freeNAS

pfSense running on one machine works just fine "with" FreeNAS running on another machine (to the extent that the router and a server on the network "work" together). Trying to run pfSense on the FreeNAS box? Not so much. I guess you could run both under something like ESXi, but there are some very specific requirements for the FreeNAS instance in that case if you want your data to be safe.

or you could team ports together to get 100MB/s for each connected computer with a CIFS share

Or not. https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/lacp-friend-or-foe.30541/

 

[Ericloewe]

Memory(2x): SAMSUNG 16GB 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM ECC Registered DDR4 2133 (PC4 17000) Server Memory Model M393A2G40DB0-CPB

That will most certainly not work with any Xeon E3 or lower system. You need UDIMMs.

 

[Nick Dutch]

Thank you for all your replies!

Considering your remarks I'm inclined to opt for the following updated list:

• CPU: Intel® Core™ i3-6100 Processor (3M Cache, 3.70 GHz)
• MB: Supermicro X11SSH-F
• HDD(4x): WD Red WD40EFRX, 4TB
• Case: Fractal Design Define R5
• Boot(2x): Sandisk Cruzer Fit 16GB USB 2.0
• Memory(2x): Samsung M391A2K43BB1
• PS: Seasonic G Series 650W

Changes are the motherboard. Differences are that this one is "hopefully" more recommended, 2 ethernet ports, IPMI and the chosen memory is on the compatibility list of the MB manufacturer.

Still wondering if the processor is sufficient. What would be the benefit to upgrade to a Xeon v5 for example?

 

[rungekutta]

Very similar build to mine. I also had concerns about the CPU but have found it's plentiful for my use. Are you planning to transcode real-time video using Plex or similar? If not, you probably won't load it more than 10-20% even if filling up the gigabit ethernet connection. If you do, it should still be enough for at least one, maybe two parallel streams in high quality.

Re the case, you may want to check out the ARC series from the same manufacturer, depending on where you will keep the server. "Define" adds nice styling and quiet operation. ARC is more focussed on airflow and configurability of cooling. They are the same price, at least in Sweden.

 

[jgreco]

You should find that to be a reasonably great NAS platform as long as you don't run out of CPU.

 

[Nick Dutch]

You should find that to be a reasonably great NAS platform as long as you don't run out of CPU.

Yes, I think I may go for the i3 6300 processor(100 euro's) at this time. It has a passmark score of 5750. If I would go for a Xeon quadcore with a passmark of 9374 it would cost 250 euro's. I'm not sure it would really benefit me as I expect that I will need the power mainly to transcode 1 max 2 high quality video streams using plex.

 

[Ericloewe]

i3 6300 processor(100 euro's)

Nice price.

I'm not sure it would really benefit me as I expect that I will need the power mainly to transcode 1 max 2 high quality video streams using plex.

The i3-6300 should handle that well.

 

[maglin]

I believe server grade components also look for the best power usage as well. My setup in my sig uses 100 watts including the 6 fans under minimal load. That is removing the 7 hard drives from the power equation. Figure another 14 for the HBA and expander and it starts to make sense in the long term. I want to put the NAS in a E16 4U case to be able to control the fan speed and save more power but that will wait until I build my VDI platform.

So also take power consumption into play. My desktop uses about 80 watts idle with 7 fans that are more power efficient.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[philhu]

I went for a sc847 supermicro/x8DTN+ motherboard, holds 36 disks, 2 XEON 5560 processors. Would never go back. It is $700 and replaces a Synology 1515+. My other NAS is a used NETAPP :)

My FreeNAS is 87TB of 3 vdev 11-disk raidz3 goodness, love it!!!

I can encode 4 hd 1080P files while watching 2 full UHD/4K streams. CPU overhead? about 20%